Starbucks Gift Card Scam | Social Distancing Coupon Scams Revealed!

Scammers have not missed an opportunity to take advantage of the Coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the globe.

Among the latest scheme concocted would include a “Free $100 Starbucks Gift Card” as a result of your social distancing efforts.

Emails titled, “To Apologize for Closing Stores: Get a $100 Starbucks Card On Us,” are integrated into their deceptive ploy while the real intentions behind these malicious offers would be to acquire personal and sensitive information, therefore, operating as a phishing scam.

To get the full scoop, and more, regarding these Starbucks Gift Cards Scams we invite you to read our honest review.

Starbucks Gift Card Scam

As concerns amidst the Coronavirus continue to take their toll on consumer lifestyles, con-artists haven’t skipped a beat in the attempt to swindle personal and financial information from consumers.

These phishing scams come through various delivery methods such as:

• Email
• Telephone
• Social Media
• Text Messages

By impersonating Starbucks, these scammers have constructed a rather convincing delivery that seems to be legitimate and an absolutely blessing to some consumers.

Conducting mass email campaigns, these deceptive emails go on to apologize for the store closures due to social distancing mandates and as a result of you being a valued customer they offer a virtual gift card through a link in an email.

When these links are clicks, they re-direct prospective victims to a page where they are required to fill out personal information – now why would you have to do?

The truth of the matter is that you wouldn’t.

As Better Business Bureau investigations have revealed, these links are not only malicious but a deliberate attempt to acquire as much information as possible while also possibly creating a virtual gateway between your device and hackers, therefore enabling them to compromise and potentially hack consumer devices.

Karla Laird, Manager for Community & Public Relations at BBB, said “With more people now working remotely and are now accessing business networks from personal devices and internet connections that are not as secure, the risks are greater if your device gets compromised… Think twice before opening unsolicited emails with strange links and attachments.”

Starbucks representatives have also confirmed that this promotion is NOT valid.

Additionally, the Better Business Bureau has advised consumers to confirm promotions of Starbucks through the Starbucks App or by contacting a store near you.

How to Report Coronavirus-Related Scams

There are a couple of different avenues you can take to report Coronavirus scams.

The Better Business Bureau has a powerful tool known as the BBB Scam Tracker.

Should you find or come across an opportunity that you believe to be a scam, you are encouraged to report the scam(s).

Additionally, consumers can reach out to the Department of Justice to directly Report COVID-19 Fraud.

COVID-19 Scam Warnings

The BBB urges consumers to exercise caution when it comes to unsolicited emails, text messages from unknown numbers, and unverified social media direct messages.

Do not under ANY circumstance click on the links disclosed in these messaging attempts, it may be an attempt to install malware on your device or a cleverly crafted attempt to harvest personal and financial information from your device.

Remember the adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!”

Well, the same could be said in regard to these ridiculous social distancing coupon scams.

Additionally, you should tread caution when it comes to generic emails.

These generic emails are sometimes left intentionally vague with the intention of piquing your curiosity to get you to open the email, so DON’T do it!

Starbucks Gift Card Scam Review

It is more important now than ever to stay vigilant during these times.

As the Coronavirus continues to deliver catastrophic blows to countries and populations across the globe, low-life scammers have taken it as a signal to create more crafty scams in the attempts to take advantage of consumers who have already been living in a heightened state of panic and uncertainty.

If you believe that you are confronting a scam it is best just to avoid the offer as a whole and report the scam to the BBB or the Department of Justice.

These are NOT times to take things lightly if you are suspicious about anything relating to social distancing scams, COVID-19 fraud, and more then please do not only yourself but others a courtesy by reporting these scams!

The suffering of the COVID-19 has been beyond extensive, we don’t need to add getting scammed on top of these difficult and unprecedented times.

Thank you for taking the time to read this publication and please stay safe!